Say the name
Aimes and I immediately think of the clean and graphic
wonder, Amy Wanford. Hailing from England, her fun British spellings and idioms are just part and parcel of one of the most delightful paper crafters you will ever have the chance to emeet. She is witty and sassy and sweet and kind, and you're
always in for a treat whenever you are lucky enough to see one of her masterpieces of white space and clean design.
I'm honored that she's taken the time to grace this little ol' blog o' mine today, friends, and know that you are going to enjoy getting to know her (better) as well. So sit back, relax, and let Aimes take it away!
What is your full name? What is your screen name? Do you have a blog or an on-line gallery?
Hey! My full name is Amy Wanford, but you can call me Aimes (most people do!) Aimes is also my screen name. Do I have a blog? Of course! You can check out my creations and ramblings at
Crafting Confessions and if you fancy the pics of projects without the ramblings, then check out my
Splitcoaststampers Gallery or
Flickr Gallery *wink*.
Describe yourself in three short, fun sentences.
I’m a total tea, toast and paper crafting addict living in Sheffield, England. Every day brings a new adventure; educating students with behavioural difficulties and various special needs. My motto in life is: nothing ventured, nothing gained. :)
How long have you been paper crafting? How did you get involved in paper crafting? What is your favorite aspect of paper crafting?
I’ve been crafting with paper since I was a kid. I remember receiving a huge pad of coloured paper when I was around 7 and feeling like all my Christmases had come at once!
I moved into the realm of card making in 2008. A friend owned a scrapbooking shop and I went to visit. The words "kid" and "candy store" spring to mind--ha! I then found stamps, ink, a fabulous online community and the rest, as they say, is history!
My favourite aspect of paper crafting has to be stamping. Without a doubt. I get a warm fuzzy feeling inside when I release an inked stamp from a project to reveal a perfect impression. I tend to get the urge to shout, “Voila!” or “Ta-Dah!” Oh and don’t even get me started on heat embossing. That technique is still magic before my very eyes!
What do you like most about the Moxie Fab World? What is your favorite feature and why?
Well let’s be honest, the Moxie Fab World would be nothing without the moxiest of Moxie Fabbers: Cath! I love Cath’s energy, enthusiasm and the way she can bring this wonderful community of crafty peeps together--be it through challenges, or a thought-provoking picture.
It’s so tough to pick a favourite feature, but I do love
Oh My Moxie Fab! Sometimes I wonder if Cath is psychic and knows how I’m feeling or what I’m thinking at the time I feast my eyes upon those wonderful pictures.
Five for Friday is also another favourite feature of mine--I’ve added a number of inspirational blogs to my reader through it.
We are all moxie fab in our own way. Name one thing that makes you moxie fab.
This is toughest question you’re going to ask me, right?! Eek! I’m not really into "bigging myself up" it’s not my style! I’d much rather sit in the corner and just get my craft on! But if you insist on an answer, I *guess* the one thing that I can think of is the way my brain ticks…I like to think outside of the box with things and that includes my approach to using items/products on my projects. I get a real kick out of using stationary items for my projects and getting the most out of my crafting supplies in general.
How would you describe your style? Provide 3-4 images of a paper crafted project that illustrates that style best.
For me, clean and simple designs make my heart skip a beat. Creating in a CAS style is my total comfort zone. Space? Yes please! Minimal elements that pack a punch? Right here, please!
I also love to create interactive cards. They give me a bit of brain-ache at times, but the end result is worth it.
Who is your favorite manufacturer and why? What is your favorite all-time collection and why? Have you created a paper crafted project using this collection? If so, feel free to attach it.
I have a few – I hope that’s OK! Firstly,
Papertrey Ink. I’ve been a fan of PTI since I started this whole stamps and ink thing!
More recently I’ve been lucky enough to be on the design team for a couple of fabulous stamp companies who have become firm favourites when it comes to my crafting adventures. One company is
Uniko Studio. I love Uniko Studio’s graphic designs and coordinating digital papers. Even the most intricately illustrated flowers can appeal to my graphic loving side and the background sets are fabulous, too.
Another manufacturer I love is
Clearly Besotted Stamps. The sets are so fun to ink up and needless to say that cards for my nieces and nephews are no longer ones that I slightly fear in creating--*wink*. I always feel like I’m keeping up with a trend when I’m inking up a CBS set. Oh and the dies – the dies make the crafting process even more fun and versatile.
Paper Crafts magazine has produced a great number of special issues over the years. Which has been the most inspiring to you and why?
Obviously every
Paper Crafts issue and special issue is chock-block full of inspiration, but one that remains on my desk for easy reference is the
Card Design Handbook. My background is not in design, so this baby is like my bible! I didn’t even realise that I was utilizing some principles of design already! When I want to brave it out of my CAS comfort zone, this issue is the first port-of-call for me!
Attach an image of a paper crafted project that you are the most proud of or that means the most to you. Include a brief statement that explains why.
OK so this card is not one that represent my style at all and that’s exactly why I’m kinda proud of it. This shabby chic style is sooooooo far from my comfort zone, but the creative process of this project taught me so much. It showed me that it pays to step out of that comfort zone at times, and that principles of design that I apply to a CAS design can be adapted to suit other styles too. The total seal of approval on this card was having it picked up for
Paper Crafts magazine's
Card Design Handbook.
Do you consider yourself to be a trend-watcher? Why or why not? Do you feel that trend-watching is important to your creativity? Why or why not?
I don’t necessarily go out looking for them, but I’m certainly influenced by them. Fashion is something that certainly gives me an idea of trends, and I find that those trends will emerge in my crafting supplies. Before I know it I’m following them! Maybe not rigidly, but in some form or other I’m following! My problem is that once I’m hooked on to a trend, I find it hard to let it go!
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See what I mean? Isn't Aimes a ton of fun? Aren't her cards, well, simply moxie fab? I just love her can-do attitude that is underlined with enthusiasm, and when she talks about how she can
think outside the box, she's not kidding. One of the things I admire about her the most is that she is able to provide truly original approaches to paper crafting. I also love how willing she is to step outside her comfort zone so that she can grow as a paper crafter. Her shabby chic card is a perfect example of that--and it also happens to be one of my all-time favorite cards!
I'd like to thank Aimes for the kind words she said about me and the Moxie Fab World today, and to thank her for spending as much time here as she does. She is definitely one of the bright lights in my world, and I'm so grateful to know her as well as I do.
Be sure and love Aimes some love before you go, Moxie Fabber style! :)
Moxie Fabbers ROCK!
~Cath
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